posted by Becky 04-13-102 8:04 PM
Cranberry Topped Vanilla Cheesecake
Crust:
12 vanilla sandwich cookies, broken into pieces (such as Vienna Fingers)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces, room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
Filling:
2 vanilla beans, split lengthwise
1/2 cup whipping cream
Cheesecake:
3 (8oz) packages of cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sugar
pinch of salt
4 large eggs
Topping:
1 12-oz bag fresh or frozen cranberries
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup frozen cranberry juice cocktail, thawed
1/4 cup water
For crust: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Wrap out-side of 9 inch springform pan with 2 3/4 inch-high sides with foil.
Blend cookies, butter and sugar in processor until crumbs stick together. Press crumbs on bottom and halfway up sides of prepared pan. Bake crust 10 minutes. Set aside. Maintain oven temperature.
For filling: using tip of small sharp knife, scrape seeds from vanilla beans into small saucepan; add beans.
Add cream. Bring to simmer over medium heat. Set aside uncovered, and cool to room temperature. Discard beans.
Blend cheese, sugar and salt in processor until very smooth, stopping often to scrape down sides of work bowl. Add vanilla cream mixture, blend. Add eggs; process 5 seconds. Transfer filling to crust. Bake cake until sides puff slightly and center is just set, about 50 minutes.
Place uncovered hot cheesecake directly into refrigerator and chill thoroughly, at least 6 hours or overnight.
For topping: Stir all ingredient in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
Increase heat; boil 3 minutes. Press mixture through sieve set over large bowl, pressing firmly on solids. Spoon warm topping over cold cake; spread evenly. Cool until topping is set, at least 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead, cover and keep chilled.)